The Hawaiian Humane Society removed yesterday more than 150 puppies and dogs — some in poor condition — from what the society described as a dirty puppy mill in Waimanalo.

The society also seized a litter of pups born yesterday from the commercial dog-breeding kennel, which the agency investigated but said had complied with the law. Two more litters were born at the humane society, and several dogs were pregnant.

"Their puppies may be adorable in the pet shop window, but their mothers are in hell (from bad breeding conditions)," said Pamela Burns, executive director and president of the Hawaiian Humane Society.

"All were dirty, living in their own feces," said Starr Dods, humane society spokeswoman.

The dogs were vaccinated and microchipped yesterday, and more extensive assessments will be done.

Burns said she saw feces spread across the floor at the kennel, dogs and puppies sitting in their own waste, water bowls filled with feces and urine and some animals showing signs of illness related to those conditions.

The agency is citing the owner for animal cruelty. Its investigators found excessive waste that affects the animals' welfare, deplorable conditions, a lack of necessary food and water, as well as health issues with some dogs associated with the poor conditions, said Jacque LeBlanc, another society spokeswoman.

Police said they were called to 41-761 Mahailua St. about a barking dog at about 8:30 a.m. Officers found more than 100 dogs, and called the humane society. Police have opened an animal nuisance case.

The humane society has been investigating the commercial kennel for more than two years and has issued quite a few warnings, Burns said. The kennel has been in compliance with the laws in the past, but conditions have never been ideal, she said.

The dogs are of numerous breeds, including German shepherds, golden retrievers, French bulldogs, shiba inus, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Siberian huskies and pugs.

A source familiar with the investigation said the puppies are being sold at a Pearl City pet shop and online.

The land on which the kennel sits is owned by a woman who owns The Pet Spot at Pearl Highlands Center, according to city and state records. Calls to the pet shop yesterday were not answered.

The manager of the Waimanalo kennel declined an interview.

At 9 a.m. today, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hear Senate Bill 1522 on regulating and licensing large-scale breeders to cap the number of breeding animals to 50 and limiting the number of breeding to twice in an 18-month period.

Good grief. The Humane Society has taken on quite a burden there. I don't know what the answer is to puppy mills, but limiting the number of breeding animals and the number of litter per dog seems like a good start.